Established in New York City in 1986 in response to the under-representation of Black gay stories, essays, biographies, and dramatic writing in LGBT literature, Other Countries is a Black queer men's writing collective. The threat of HIV and AIDS magnified the urgent and ongoing need for safe spaces where Black queer men can express, support, and validate each other. Numerous members and collaborators, such as Marlon Riggs, Colin Robinson, Donald Woods, Assotto Saint, and B.Michael Hunter, are now ancestors.

Other Countries Writing Collective’s initial core program was a weekly, peer-facilitated writing workshop. Semi-annual public solstice readings, and presentations and performances at colleges, universities, and community centers increased our visibility. In addition to writing, reading, and performing, Other Countries has published three anthologies of poetry, prose, illustrations, and photographs. They are Other Countries: Black Gay Voices, a First Volume (1988), Sojourner: Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS (1993), and Voices Rising: Celebrating 20 Years of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Writing (2007, Redbone Press).

The peer-facilitated writing workshop continues to meet, now virtually, on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. For more information, email infoothercountries@gmail.com.